Baisakhi Celebrated with Gurbani Messages of Harmony at UK Parliament Complex | World News

The devotional strains of Gurbani and messages of harmony filled the air at the Houses of Parliament complex in London this week during a unique Baisakhi celebration. Organized by the British Indian think tank 1928 Institute, along with diaspora membership organizations City Sikhs and the British Punjabi Welfare Association (BPWA), the event brought together a diverse group of professionals, community leaders, and philanthropists.

City Sikhs Chair Jasvir Singh led the proceedings, which included speeches and soul-stirring Gurbani by the Anahad Kirtan Society. The event aimed to spotlight the UK-India relationship and the significant contributions of the Sikh community to British society.

Kiran Kaur Manku, co-chair of the 1928 Institute, highlighted the importance of Baisakhi in celebrating the birth of the Khalsa by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. She emphasized the values of equality, hierarchy removal, and fearlessness that are central to the Sikh identity.

Cross-party parliamentarians, including British Sikh Labour member of Parliament Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Labour’s shadow minister for Asia and the Pacific Catherine West, were in attendance. Baroness Sandy Verma and South Asia Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad also showed their support for the event, which is expected to become an annual fixture in the parliamentary calendar.

Param Singh, Co-Chair of City Sikhs, reiterated the enduring influence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s teachings on equality and protection for all members of society. The celebration served as a reminder of the values and principles that continue to shape the Sikh community worldwide.